Does your little one have a red spot on their skin? Here is what a hemangioma really is and when to get it checked.

Have you ever noticed a bright red or purple bump on a young child's skin? Sometimes these spots can even look a little brownish. We are going to talk about what these spots are and what they mean for your family.

In medical terms, doctors call these spots a hemangioma. Try not to worry, as we will explain everything in simple, everyday words so you can feel confident.

What is a hemangioma in simple words?

Simply put, a hemangioma is a group of tiny blood vessels that bunch up together to form a small bump. Some babies are born with these spots right on their skin. Others show up when the baby is a few weeks or months old.

These spots are most common in young babies. About one in every ten newborn babies will have one. However, older people can get them too. In fact, about three out of four adults over age seventy-five have a tiny type called a cherry hemangioma.

Is a hemangioma a form of cancer?

This is one of the most common questions people ask. A hemangioma is not cancer. Doctors call this a benign tumor, which simply means it is a harmless growth.

These growths do not spread to other parts of your body. It is also extremely rare for them to turn into a dangerous or malignant disease. You do not need to panic or worry about cancer.

What are the main types of hemangiomas?

There are two main types of hemangiomas that doctors look for. Let us take a closer look at each one:

1. Capillary hemangioma: These grow right in the top layers of your skin.

• Infantile hemangioma: These are very common in babies. People sometimes call them strawberry hemangiomas because they look like a tiny strawberry.
• Cherry hemangioma: These are common in older adults, especially those over seventy-five years of age.

2. Cavernous hemangioma: These grow deeper under the skin layers. They often appear around the eyes. When they form near the eye, they can sometimes affect how the eye grows or works. This can sometimes lead to eye issues like lazy eye, glaucoma, or cataracts.

Are hemangiomas dangerous to your health?

Most hemangiomas are completely harmless. However, they can become a problem if they press against an important body part or organ. When they squeeze nearby tissues, they can cause damage. How serious a hemangioma is depends entirely on where it is located on your body.

What are the signs and symptoms of a hemangioma?

A hemangioma can show up anywhere on your body. However, you will most often see them on the head or the neck. They are very easy to spot when they sit right on the surface of the skin.

Sometimes they can also form inside your mouth or on mucous membranes. In rare cases, they can grow inside your body where you cannot see them. A common place for an internal hemangioma is inside the liver.

If you have a hemangioma on your skin, it may look like this:

• A raised bump that stands out above the skin or looks like a tiny fluid-filled blister.
• Bright red to deep purple if you have fair skin, or brownish on darker skin tones. Some deeper spots can also look a bit blue.
• Usually ranging from one-quarter of an inch to two inches wide.
• Often forming a single lump, though they can sometimes appear in clusters or cover a wider area.

Hemangiomas normally do not cause pain. Pain can happen if the spot is in a tight space or if it gets rubbed and scratched. Most hemangiomas also do not bleed unless they get hurt or scraped open.

Stages of an infantile hemangioma.

Hemangiomas that form after birth go through two main stages. Here is what happens:

1. Proliferation stage: During this first stage, the hemangioma grows very fast. This usually happens during the first twelve months of life. A tiny speck of a spot gets bigger over a short time.

2. Involution stage: During this second stage, the hemangioma starts to shrink and get smaller. This phase usually starts when the baby is between twelve and eighteen months old. This shrinking process can take several years.

About half of all children finish this shrinking process by age five. Nine out of ten children see the spot completely vanish by age nine.

When the involution stage ends, the hemangioma is gone. Sometimes it leaves no mark at all. Other times, it might leave a tiny scar or a slight change in skin color.

Congenital hemangiomas are present at birth and behave differently based on their specific patterns:

• Rapidly involuting spots: These go away and shrink very quickly.
• Noninvoluting spots: These stay and do not shrink on their own.
• Partially involuting spots: These shrink only a little bit rather than disappearing completely.

What causes a hemangioma to form?

Hemangiomas form when blood vessels group together and grow in an unusual way. However, experts still do not know the exact cause or why these clusters form in the first place.

What are the main risk factors?

Certain factors make it more likely for a person to develop a hemangioma:

• Age: Newborns and young infants, especially those between two weeks and two months old, get them most often.
• Premature birth: About one in five babies born prematurely will develop a hemangioma.
• Biological sex: Girls are about four times more likely to develop hemangiomas than boys.
• Skin tone: People with fair or lighter skin tones get hemangiomas more often.
• Health conditions: Rare health conditions like PHACE syndrome or Von Hippel-Lindau disease can sometimes be linked to hemangiomas.

What complications can a hemangioma cause?

Most hemangiomas cause no trouble at all. Problems only happen when they grow in sensitive areas. Here are a few examples:

• Around the eyes: Hemangiomas near the eyes can press on delicate tissues and hurt vision.
• On the chin and neck: Spots on the lower face or neck can press on the windpipe and cause trouble breathing.
• Along the spine: Spots near the spine can put pressure on the spinal cord and lead to nerve issues.
• Internal organs: Large or multiple internal hemangiomas can interfere with how your organs work.

How do doctors diagnose a hemangioma?

Doctors can usually spot hemangiomas on the skin with a simple glance. A routine physical exam is often all it takes.

Doctors can also use tools like an ultrasound to look closer. An ultrasound works very well because it shows blood flowing through the hemangioma. Sometimes doctors take a small tissue sample, called a biopsy, but this is rarely needed.

In some cases, your doctor may suggest an imaging scan like an MRI. These scans help check for hidden risks beneath the skin. Blood tests or genetic tests can also help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Your doctor will talk to you about the best tests for your specific situation.

How are hemangiomas treated?

Hemangiomas can be treated, but many do not need any treatment at all. Because infantile hemangiomas often go away on their own, your doctor might suggest simply watching the spot over time.

Treatment might be needed if:

• Location: The spot is in a place where it could harm nearby body tissues.
• Size: The hemangioma is very large and needs help shrinking.
• Appearance: The spot is on the face or head and bothers you or your child.
• Remaining changes: The skin needs help healing after the spot shrinks.
• Bleeding or injury: Good wound care is vital if the spot gets scraped or bleeds.

Doctors use several methods to treat hemangiomas:

• Beta-blockers: medicines like propranolol are often the first choice. Using them while the spot is growing fast can help shrink it. They come as liquid medicine to swallow or as a skin cream.
• Corticosteroids: These medicines can be given as a skin cream or an injection to help shrink the blood vessels.
• Laser treatments: Laser light can stop a surface hemangioma from growing bigger and help fade changes in skin color.
• Blocking blood flow: Procedures like sclerotherapy or embolization can cut off the blood supply to the hemangioma.
• Surgery: Large or deep hemangiomas can be removed with surgery. Surgery can also fix skin changes left behind by a healed spot.

Cherry hemangiomas in adults over seventy-five usually do not need treatment. If a spot bothers you, your family doctor can send you to a skin doctor called a dermatologist.

When should you see a doctor about a hemangioma?

Take your child to see a doctor right away if you notice these signs:

• The color of the spot changes.
• The spot cracks open and starts bleeding.
• The spot grows right next to the eye.
• The spot forms near the mouth, chin, or throat.

Always remember that getting quick medical advice when you spot these changes is very important.

What happens if you have a hemangioma?

What happens next depends on the type of hemangioma, where it sits, and how long you have had it. Most hemangiomas are not dangerous unless they form in very sensitive areas. Many spots slowly shrink and fade away completely on their own. If your child needs treatment, there are safe options available to help.

If your child has a hemangioma and you have questions, you are never alone. Your child's pediatrician can guide you and answer your questions. They can also help calm your worries.

Hemangiomas versus regular birthmarks.

A hemangioma is a specific type of vascular birthmark made up of blood vessels. Other birthmarks can also be made of blood vessels or may be pigmented skin spots like moles.

If your child has a red spot, feeling worried until you know what it is remains completely normal. Even after a doctor gives you a diagnosis, feeling unsure about the future can be hard. But you do not have to walk this path alone. Talking to your pediatrician is the best first step to find answers. They can help you stay calm and teach you everything you need to know to care for your child.

Remember that staying informed is your best defense. Taking good care of your little one's health matters every single day.

Sources & References:

• Cleveland Clinic: Infantile Hemangioma Overview and Treatment Guide.
• Mayo Clinic: Hemangioma Symptoms, Causes, and Care.
• National Health Service (NHS UK): Birthmarks and Strawberry Birthmarks.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Infant Health and Skin Conditions.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH / PubMed Central): Clinical Review of Vascular Birthmarks.